Dear Parents,
For many of the students this will be their first major AT HOME individual science project. This project is intended to encourage students to THINK about how things work instead of simply repeating
back facts that they have learned. Children are naturally curious, and while fun experiments may be exciting and get students interested in science, the real key to the science fair is for
students to learn that the journey through the scientific process can be rewarding -- and
educational. Even scientific study of something simple still requires a systematic process of acquiring knowledge derived from observation and study.
Science Fair Timeline
discuss possible experiments with parents |
November 9-23 |
decide on an experiment |
November 23 |
conduct the experiment and complete the attached Scientific Method Worksheet (Note: experiments involving plant growth will take longer) |
December- Winter Break |
prepare your display board |
December –Winter Break |
bring your experiment and display board to school |
January 9, 2016 |
Science Fair |
January |
Materials List
• bifold display board (see diagram) – Walmart, Target, or Hobby Lobby usually carries them
• writing/typing paper
• glue
• materials required for the experiment (with some experiments I can help provide the materials)
NOTE: Students can use the computers at school to type their display material if time allows.
Scientific Methods
Scientific Method Vocabulary
hypothesis - A good guess or explanation to a question in science.
recording- Writing down what is happening in an experiment.
observation - Watching and recording what is happening in a scientific experiment.
conclusion- Writing about what you learned from the experiment.
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Information on Regional Central New Mexico Science Contest: http://stemed.unm.edu/
Research ideas: http://stemed.unm.edu/RC_Student_Ideas.aspx
How to do display board: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml and http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Science-Fair-Presentations/How-to-Create-a-Winning-Science-Fair-Display-Board.html
Other projects, which our middle school students should consider (previous groups have participated and won in this contest): http://stemed.unm.edu/RC_NMJr_Academy.aspx (this can be same research project but it includes research paper and oral presentation)
Previous Salam Academy science contestants:
Winners and contestants from previous years:
https://www.facebook.com/Salam-Academy-Where-Education-Has-No-Limits-135964493136133/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.836102593122316.1073741868.135964493136133&type=3 (School level)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.861327533933155.1073741871.135964493136133&type=3 (Regional level)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.869533569779218.1073741874.135964493136133&type=3 (State level)
Sample Display Board Layout